25 Things I Love about Being Quarantined

Looking on the bright side of a quarantined life.

For those of us contributing to public health with a private quarantine to protect the most vulnerable in our society, here is a list of things I’m grateful for during this global crisis.

In unusual times like these, it is essential to keep busy and maintain somewhat of a schedule even when you no longer have your regular schedule to keep. Things like getting up at the same time, getting dressed, staying active, going to bed at the same time — these all count as maintaining some normalcy.

This time will pass.

25 Things I Love about Being Quarantined

1. No FOMO. Everyone is staying in. Bars and restaurants are closed, so are, gyms, museums, live events. You aren’t missing out on anything.
2. Cook with your family, bake. Restaurants are closing. It is time to get reacquainted with your kitchen and your cooking skills.
3. Catch up on Netflix shows everyone talks about but you haven’t seen yet. If you’re already caught up on the latest shows, dive into older ones. Watch all nine seasons of Seinfeld for a good laugh, my personal favorite. Parks and Rec is amazing, as is The Office and Mad Men.
4. More time to write. I have more time to write because I’m not running around town doing errands and meeting friends for dinner or drinks. I have a lot more time to write.
5. Have more sex. Something about the dire and scary end-of-the-world vibe in the air puts me in the mood to have passionate end-of-the-world sex with my partner. More time to reconnect with him is always a plus. Or, ‘reconnect’ with yourself.
6. I’m saving money on gas. Actually, I’m saving money on everything. I spend way too much money on little things I don’t need while out and about in the world. I’m spending less money on espresso, eating out, and shopping.
7. Practice minimalism. I like being a minimalist and seeing how little I can live on. Now that skill is really coming in handy. In reality, we don’t need much. We need food, water, and those we love. We can survive a long time without much else.
8. Make a ‘Quarantunes’ list on Spotify à la Rita Wilson. Tom Hanks and his wife were the first high profile couple to cop to testing positive for the novel coronavirus. Hank’s statement to the press did more to quell fears about the virus than anything the president has said. Wilson told her followers she wanted to create a Spotify playlist for people who are self-quarantined with songs related to isolation and asked them for their suggestions for songs to include as well as a name for the playlist, hence, ‘Quantunes.’ Making playlists is one of my favorite past times.
9. My gym is still open. The mountains surrounding my house are calling me. I went for a two-hour hike this morning. I saw two people. Get outside and into nature. It is good for your mental health and your body.
10. Take more walks with your dog. If you don’t have a mountain to climb near you, take your dog on more walks, it is good for you and the dog. No dog, go with your partner or spouse or child for a spin around the block — walking.
11. Spring cleaning. Now is the time to reorganize your cabinets. Take everything out of cabinets, dressers, closets, and purge. You have the time. Sort items into three piles; keep, throw away, and give away. Pack ‘give away’ into boxes and put in the trunk of your car or garage to take to Goodwill when quarantine is over.
12. Catch up on old movies. My daughter is always asking to watch The Godfather movies and movies from the 70s. The 70s were the most fruitful, creative, and daring time in film making. Here are some greats; The Godfather trilogy, Easy Rider, Raging Bulls, Five Easy Pieces, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid, Chinatown, The Goodbye Girl, Taxi Driver, A Clockwork Orange, Rocky, The Graduate, the list goes on.
13. Read. If you don’t have a book to read, you can always buy one on Audible.
14. Catch up on podcasts. My favorites are The Tim Ferriss Show, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, Serial, and Snap Judgment.
15. Play board games. Order a couple of jigsaw puzzles and games from Amazon. When my daughter and I sit down to do a puzzle together, she offers information on in her teenage life that I wouldn’t normally get if I simply asked. She is more forthcoming when we are busy doing something mundane that doesn’t require a lot of brainpower. Our hands are occupied, we’re looking down, and she spills the beans. This tactic is truly remarkable.
16. Take a bath. There never seems to be time to take a bath. Now you have the time, do it. Practice self-care.
17. Clean out the garage. See number 11 on this list.
18. Clean out your email box.
19. Start a meditation routine. You know that meditation practice you’ve always wanted to start? Now is the time. Because you have it. Get up every morning and meditate instead of looking at the increase of COVID-19 outbreaks on social media. Download an app, like Calm or Headspace to help you out. Meditation has been proven to quell anxiety and help relieve stress. Meditation focuses your mind on the present, which is the only thing you have power over.
20. Teach your kids life lessons. Since kids are now home when they normally would not be, take an hour each day to teach them a life skill they would not learn in school. Here are some, balancing a checkbook, changing a tire, checking the oil in the car or reading an actual map — not Google Maps, an old school map you hold in your hand and then have difficulty refolding — investing, the list goes on. Here is another list of things you can teach them.
21. Less driving. I live in LA. Since I don’t have to drive my daughter to school for a while, I just gained an extra two hours a day, more time to write.
22. Life is simple and slow. Take this time to reflect. You are being forced to slow down, do less, buy less, consume less. Take this time to reflect on that. Don’t just numb out with TV and overeating all the stuff you just panic bought at the grocery store. Take time to journal, meditate, and be with your family.
23. FaceTime. FaceTime with loved ones who are geographically far and those close by who are too elderly to put at risk.
24. Write a hand-written letter. Write a letter to a family member who lives far from you. The art of letter writing is a lost art. Get creative — draw, paint, use decorative stamps, and make cards from scratch — this is a fun activity to do with little ones.
25. Enjoy your family. Be present with them. This time will pass. Life will get back to normal before we know it with schedules, places to go, lessons to get kids to, and people to see. Enjoy this time of mandatory slow down. We get to see all the things we’ve been taking for granted. Life is fragile and precious, enjoy it.

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Jessica is a writer, an online entrepreneur, and a recovering type-A personality. She lives in Los Angeles with her extrovert daughter, two dogs, and two cats.